Casting machine for lining bearings



June 114,.

: w. H. TOBENER, JR 2,473,482

CASTING MACHINE FOR LINING BEARINGS Filed May 4, 1946 2 Shets-Sheet 1 JhVErzzQF June 14, 1949. w. H. TOBENER, JR' 2,473,482

CASTING MACHINE FOR LINING BEARINGS Filed May 4, 19,46 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JEWEIYZUP W/L L /,w HENRY Essa/51MB Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHZE CASTING MACHINE FOR LINING BEARINGS William Henry Tobener, Jr.,. Cleveland, Ohio, as-

signor to Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, av corporation of Ohio Application May 4, 1946, Serial No. 667,414

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to casting machines. Specifically, the invention deals with casting machines for babbitting bearings such as connecting rods for internal combustion engines.

While the machines of this invention are generally useful for die casting, and especially for lining hollow articles with metal, they are particularly useful connection with the rebabbitting of connecting rods for internal combustion engines, and will hereinafter be specifically described for such usage. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to use of the machine for rebabbitting connecting rods. Heretofore it has been the practice in lining connecting rod bearings to process each half or segment of the bearing separately, depositing an excess of metal on the bearing surface. In a series of subequent operations the inside diameter was first roughed out and then precision machined to size, corners were chamfered, and oil grooves were milled in the hearing.

In my invention the segments of the work to be lined are assembled on a die plate around a mandrel which is mounted for vertical movement in the die plate on a spring support. The work is secured laterally by clamping it against a suitable stop-pin, and a pour plate is positioned over the head of a through bolt in the mandrel. Molten metal is directed, by means of a series of gates in the pour plate, into the annular space between the mandrel wall and the inside surface of the bearing shell. This annular space is enclosed at the bottom by the die plate and at the top by the pour plate. A ridge on the outside surface of the mandrel protrudes into the annular space between the mandrel and the bearing shell and, conforms to the shape of the oil grooves and pockets which are desired in the bearing surface. Thus, when the bearing metal is poured into the annular space and is allowed to solidify therein, oil grooves are formed in the resulting bearing surface.

When the bearing segments are lined with metal using the machine of my invention all of the segments constituting the bearing can be poured in the same operation. This permits pairs of bearing shells, which have previously been selectively assembled with regard to alignment of bolt holes, to be kept together. It is particularly advantageous when a batch of used connecting rods are being relined since, due to wear in service along the sides of the connecting rod it is necessary that the pairs are not broken up.

By using the machine of my invention the initial roughing out machining operation on the poured bearing is eliminated since the inside diameter of the bearing surface will conform to the diameter of the mandrel. The diameter of the mandrel, therefore, is chosen so that only a minimum amount of machining to size is necessary. The operation of chamfering the lower corner of the bearing is eliminated also by the use of a ridge in .the die plate which extends upward into. the bottom of the annular space and which also acts as a centering means for the bearing segments. As has been previously described the oil grooves are cast into the bearing surface and therefore the milling operation is not necessary.

Another difficulty previously experienced in casting machines, which I have overcome by my invention is. the premature solidification of the molten metal due to its contact with a cold sprue cutter or pour plate. Heretofore, the sprue cutter has been made an integral part. of the casting machine. In the interval during which a slow or unskilled workman is removing the work piece that has just been lined and positioning the next piece to be lined on the machine, the sprue cutter has a tendency to cool down. Then, when the molten metal comes into contact with this cool surface, it solidifies in the gates of, the sprue cutter or at best flows into the space to be filled in a slow stream that permits air pockets to form in the bearing metal. In my invention I have provided a pour plate which is a unit detachable from the rest of the casting machine. Thus, if the operator is delayed, due to his own inexperience or for any other reason, to the point where he knows that the pour plate has cooled off he need only to hold the pour plate momentarily in a flame or in the bath of molten metal in order to bring the temperature of the pour plate up to the required level.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a casting machine which holds work segments in fixed but spaced relation for a casting operation that will simultaneously line all of the segments.

It is another object of this invention to provide a casting machine which will simultaneously line with metal all parts of a multi-section bearing without uniting the parts with liner metal.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a spring-mounted assembly means to lock the segments of a bearing around a mandrel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a casting machine with a laterally and axially shiftable mandrel which will accommodate itself to the work pieces.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bearing lining machine having first and second clamps for quickly positioning the bearing relative to a mandrel and for affixing the bearing against radial and axial movements.

It is another and still further object of this invention to provide a casting machine with a die that will form oil grooves in the bearing surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide a casting machine with a die which will form a chamfered edge on the bearing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a casting machine that will simultaneously form bearing linings in both halves of a split connecting rod bearing or the like without interfering with the separation of the split sections.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of a preferred example only, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the casting machine of this invention illustrating the manner in which a connecting rod is mounted on the machine for the casting operation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line IIII]I of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line V-V of Figures 2 and 3, but showing in addition a section through the pour plate and retaining nut.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a typical connecting rod bearing after it has been lined and assembled.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken substantially on line VII-VII of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken substantially on line VIII-VIII of Figuure 2.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Figure 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The machines of this invention include a table or supporting frame I0, shown in Figures 1 and 2, having upstanding supporting legs II and a flat horizontal table top I2. An opening I3 extending through the table top I2 is provided near the center thereof.

For supporting the work piece that is to be lined a die plate I4 is mounted in spaced relation above the table top I2 by means of two guide rods I5. These rods I5 have square cross section central portions secured, as by welding, to the underside of the die plate I4 together with circular cross section end portions slidable in pillow blocks I 5 and I1. Pillow blocks I1 are permanently welded to the table top I2 while the pillow blocks I6 are detachably fastened for assembly purposes by capscrews I8. A coil spring i9 is disposed around each guide rod I5 with one end abutting the pillow block I1 and the other end abutting a plate 2|] which is welded on die plate I4 and on guide rod I5. By its action against the abutment plate 20, the spring I9 tends at all times to move the die plate I 4 and the guide rod I5 to the left.

As best shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, a mandrel 2| is slidably mounted in an oval shaped aperture or hole I4a of die plate I4. The hole |4a is surrounded by a beveled rim or ridge I 41) on the top face of the plate I4. This ridge is of triangular cross section and projects into the lower edge of the work to center the work around the mandrel 2|. The ridge also forms a chamfered bottom edge on the liner. The mandrel 2| projects above the top face of the die plate I4 to extend through the work piece and provides the inner forming surface for the lining or bearing metal that is cast into the work piece. In order that various widths of work pieces may be accommodated in this machine the mandrel 2| is adapted to be slidably adjusted in a vertical direction in the die plate aperture I ia. On the surface of the mandrel 2| there is a ridge 22 which conforms to the shape of the oil grooves (Fig. 6) that are desired in the final bearing surface. This ridge protrudes outward from the mandrel wall into the space that is to be filled with molten metal, thus forming oil grooves when the metal solidifies around it.

As may be seen in the plan view of Figure 3, the mandrel 2| consists substantially of two semi-circles connected by a rectangle. The rectangular section extends out to either side and provides abutment shoulders or plates 23 against which opposed segments of the work to be lined are forced. The shoulders 23 are arranged for sliding movement in slots I40 at either side of the aperture I la of the die plate I4, as shown in Figure 9.

A hole 24 in the mandrel 2| receives a through bolt 25 which extends downward through a retainer plate 26, a spring 21, a locating ring 28 and a retainer strap 29, and is secured to the underside of strap 29 by nut 30. The through bolt 25 affords an adjusting means whereby the position of the mandrel 2| can be regulated with relation to the supporting die plate I4. The strap 29, to which the bolt 25 is secured, is fastened by capscrews 3| to the die plate I4. The retainer plate 26 limits the upward movement of spring 21 by abutting against the underside 'of die plate I 4. The retainer plate 26 also acts as a support for mandrel 2|. A locating ring 28 resting on strap 29 and a locating shoulder 25a. on the bottom of retainer plate 26 serve as centering means for spring 21.

For the purpose of directing the molten metal into the space to be filled, a pour plate 35 is removably mounted on top of mandrel 2| This pour plate 35 has a hollow central boss portion 36 providing an open-bottomed recess 31 receiving the head of through bolt 25. The bolt 25 centers the pour plate 35 on the mandrel 2| As annular trough 38 is provided in the top face of the pour plate 35 around the boss 36 thereof to form a molten metal-receiving chamber. A plurality of apertures 39 are formed at spaced intervals through the pour plate 35 around the boss 36 thereof.

A handle 35a is welded to pour plate 35 to facilitate in its positioning and removing.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 a toggle clamp device it is mounted on the table top I2 to act downwardly on the pour plate 35 for clamping the work piece between the pour plate 35 and the die plate I4 against the action of spring 21 in the event the mandrel 2| projects above the work.

A second toggle clamp device 50 is also mounted on the table top I2 to act on the work in a lateral direction for cooperating with a stop pin 66 to clamp the opposed work segments around the mandrel 2| against the plates 23 thereof.

The clamping device (Figures 1, 2 and '7) includes a supporting platform 4| securely mounted as by welding to the table top l2. Opposed angle brackets 42 are bolted or riveted to the supporting platform 4| and have upstanding spaced opposed flanges 42a receiving the end of a clamping bar 43 therebetween. A pivot pin 44 extends through the flanges 42a and through the rear end of the bar 43 to pivotally connect the bar to the flanges. The forward end of the clamp 40 comprises a work-engaging bolt held in place relative to a collar 46 by two nuts 41. This arrangement permits the position of the bolt 45 to be adjusted with respect to the pour plate 35. The collar 46 is rigidly secured in angular relation to the bar 43 by bolts 48. A handle 52 having bifurcated opposed portions 53--53 straddling the flanges 42a. is pivoted to d the flanges by means of pins 54. A pair of links project between the bifurcated portions 5353 of the handle and is pivoted thereto by means of a pin 56. The other ends of the links straddle the clamping bar 53 and are pivoted thereto by means of a pin 51. A stop pin 58 extends transversely through the clamping bar 53 in spaced relation forwardly from the pivot pin 51.

To move the work-engaging bolt 45 against the boss 36 of the pour plate 35 the handle 52 is pushed forward until it strikes the stop pin 58 as shown in Figure 7. When the handle engages the stop pin 58, the pin 51 will have slightly passed the dead center position which is attained when pins 54, 56 and 51 are in line. When the dead center position is passed a force exerted upward on bolt 45 will not open the clamp since there will be no component of force tending to rotate the handle 52 clockwise about its pivot 54. Thus the work is secured in place until released by applying a clockwise force to the top of handle 52.

The clamping device 56, as shown in Figures 1 and 8 comprises a supporting platform 6| securely mounted as by welding to the table top |2. the top surface of the work for an thickness of A bracket 62 is bolted or riveted to the platform 6|. The bracket 62 has a forked support member 62a which carries between its arms pivot plates 63, one plate being pivotally attached to each arm by a pin 64. A handle is secured between pivot plates 63 by means of rivets 66. The bracket 62 also has two upright bearing support members 61 held in spaced relation to each other by a tubular member 68. A workengaging push rod 10 is mounted for slidable 7 movement in bearing members 6! and spacer tube 68. The push rod 10 is connected to pivot plates 63 by means of a link 1|. This link 1| is pivotally secured between the pivot plates 63 by pin 12 and is pivotally fastened in a forked" end of push rod 10 by means of a pin 13.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the active end of push rod 10 is adapted to be positioned in a tapered oil hole in the bearing shell of the work 7 piece.

To move the push rod 16 into contact with the work the handle 65 is pushed forward as shown in Figure 3 until it comes to rest on the link H. In this position the pin 12 has slightly passed the dead center position which is attained whenpins 64, 12 and 13 are in line. When the dead center position is passed a force exerted to the left on push rod will not release the clamp because there will be no component of force tending to rotate the pivot plate, and consequently the handle, counterclockwise about the pivot pin 64. Thus the work is secured against lateral movement until the clamp 50 is released by a counterclockwise force being applied to the top of handle 65.

In operation of the machine of this invention, a work piece, such as a conventional connecting rod 15 with a split main bearing portion composed of a half-bearing head 16 integral with; the rod portion of the connecting rod and a strap member or bearing portion 11, is positioned around the ridge Mb of die plate I4 with the base of each segment abutting the plates 23 of the mandrel 2|. As may be best seen in Figure l, the push rod 70 of the clamp 5|] is positioned in the oil hole 18 of the bearing segment I! and the wrist pin bearing end 19 of the rod 15 is positioned around the pin 66. By pushing the handle 65 of the clamp 56 to the right, the whole mandrel asembly is shifted to the right against pressure of the springs l3 by the guide rods l5 sliding in the pillow blocks l6 and [1. The clamp 56 is so adjusted that it will reach its over-dead-center locked position just as the wrist pin end 19 of the connecting rod 15 abuts against the stop pin 65. The work is now locked against any force tending to cause lateral movement.

When the work has been shifted to the right and locked against the stop-pin 66, the workengaging bolt 45 of the clamp 40 is brought down on the boss 36 of the pour plate 35 and the clamp 40 is put in-its 0ve1'-dead-center locked position by pivoting the handle about pin 54. Thus the work is locked in place between the pour plate 35 and the die plate Hi.

t is to be particularly noted that if the work piece should have width loss than the average width of the work pieces being lined the spring mounting of the mandrel 2| will permit the mandrel 2! to be moved downward under the clamping action of clamp 49 on the pour plate 35. Thus the fiat bottom surface of the pour plate 35 will assume a sealing position on work.

When the work is clamped in position, molten metal such as babbitt is poured into the chamber 38 of the pour plate 35 and flows through the apertures 39 into the annular space between the mandrel wall and the inside wall of the piece to be lined. As soon as the metal has solidified the top clamp 46 is released, and the pour plate is given a slight twisting movement and removed. The clamp 53 is released whereby the springs l9 move the mandrel assembly'bodily to the left. The inner edge of the wrist pin bearing end '59 of the connecting rod contacts pin 66 and thus causes the lined bearing to be withdrawn from around the mandrel 2|. This releasing action of the spring l3 cooperating with stop pin 63 is of particular importance since the ridge 22 on the'surface of the mandrel 2| prevents the mandrel from being withdrawn from the work in a vertical direction. This ridge 22,

as previously explained, protrudes into the casting space and forms the oil groove 80 in the bearing.

After the bearings have been released from the mandrel 2| by removing clamp 56, they may be taken from the machine.

The bearing segments now have a bearing lining of uniform thickness with an accurately controlled inside diameter. The required oil grooves are in the bearing surface, as is the 45 chainfer required on the bottom edge of the bearing.

, From the foregoing description it will be clear otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: l. A casting machine for babbitting connecting rod bearings and the like which comprises a table having an apertured top, guide rods slidably mounted on said table top in spaced relation thereto, an apertured horizontal work-supporting die mounted on said guide rods, a mandrel slidable in the aperture of said die, a springpressed retainer plate for supporting said mandrel, a pour plate detachably seatable on top of said mandrel, means for positioning said pour plate relative to said mandrel, said pour plate having a molten metal-receiving trough therein together with apertures therethrough joining the bottom of the trough with the spaces between. the work piece and said mandrel, a clamping device mounted on said table top operable on the work piece for securing it against lateral movement relative to the mandrel, and a clamping device mounted on said table top operable on said pour plate to clamp the work between said die and said pour plate and to depress the mandrel to accommodate full seating of the pour plate on the work.

2. A casting machine comprising a die having a vertical aperture, a mandrel mounted for slidable vertical movement in the aperture of said die, resilient means for supporting said mandrel, a pour plate detachably mountable on said mandrel, a clamping device for holding the work against axial movement and between said pour plate and said die, and a second clamping device for securely positioning the work in a lateral direction.

3. A casting machine comprising a frame, a work-support, a mandrel mounted for vertical movement in said work support, a spring-pressed support means for said mandrel, said work support and said spring-supported mandrel being slidably movable as a unit in relation to said frame, a clamping devic for pressing the work in a lateral direction against said mandrel, a pour plate detachably seatable on said mandrel, and a clamping device for holding the work -between said pour plate and said work support.

4. A casting machine adapted for lining bearings or the like which comprises a table having a vertical aperture, a work positioning die, guide rods slidably mounted on said table, a springsupported mandrel slidable in said die, said mandrel and said die being movable with said guide rods in the vertical aperture of said table, a stop-pin, a clamping device for positioning the work about the mandrel and for further urging and locking the work against said stop pin, a pour plate seatable on said mandrel, and a clamp device operable on said pour plate to lock the work between the pour plate and die.

5. A casting machine, adapted for simultaneously babbitting sections of a multi-section bearing, comprising a work support, a mandrel slidable in said work support having opposed shoulders for bottoming the sections or a bearing, means for clamping the bearing sections against said shoulders, a pour plate seatable on said mandrel, and means for clamping the bearing between the pour plate and support.

6. A machine for simultaneously babbitting the strap and body half sections of the main bearing of a connecting rod which comprises an anchor for receiving the wrist pin end of a connecting rod therearound, a die spring-pressed away from said anchor, a mandrel slidable in said die and spring-pressed to project therefrom into the main bearing end of a connecting rod, said mandrel having radially extending ribs along the axial length thereof for bottoming the strap and body half sections of said main bearin end of the rod in spaced opposed relation, a first clamp for acting on the strap section to shift the die toward said anchor thereby compressing the die spring and locking the rod against radial movement relative to the mandrel, a top die seatable on said mandrel, and a second clamp for acting on the top die to compress the mandrel spring and lock the rod against axial movement relative to the dies.

7. A machine for simultaneously lining the sections of a multi-section article without joining the sections together which comprises a mandrel for projecting through the article to spring pressed laterally shiftable die supporting said mandrel, an anchor for the article, a clamp acting on the article to shift the die and mandrel toward the anchor for compressin said die spring to lock the article against the ribs of the mandrel, a top die seatable on the article and a second clamp for acting on the top die to lock the article between the dies.

8. A casting machine adapted for lining bearings or the like which comprises a table having an aperture therein, guide rods slidably mounted on said table and spring-pressed toward an unlocked position, a die secured to said slidable rods having an aperture therein, a resiliently mounted mandrel slidable in the aperture of said die, a ring on said die for centering the segments of the bearing to be lined around the mandrel, a stoppin mounted on said table, clamping means on said table for urging said bearings, said mandrel and said die Iaterally as a unit to clamp said bearing segments against said stop-pin, a pour plate mounted on said mandrel having ports communicating with the interior of the bearing segments around the mandrel, and a clamp movable against said pour plate for clamping said bearing segments between the pour plate and the die and for adjusting the length of the bearing forming surface of the mandrel to the length of the face of the bearing segments.

9. A casting machine for lining bearings or the like comprising a table having an aperture therein, guide rods slidably mounted on said table, a die secured to said rods and having an aperture therein, a resiliently mounted mandrel slidable in the aperture of said die, the bearing to be lined being supported on said die in spaced relation around said mandrel, and means for delivering molten metal to-the space between said mandrel and said bearing.

10. A casting machine for lining bearings or the like comprising a mandrel for projecting through the bearing to shape the lining, a spring pressed laterally shiftable die supporting said mandrel, an anchor for the bearing, a clamp operable to shift said die and mandrel toward said anchor for compressing said die spring to lock the bearing in spaced relation around said mandrel, and means for delivering molten metal to the space between said mandrel and said bearing.

WILLIAM HENRY TOBENER, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bird Dec. 5, 1916 Moser Oct. 31, 1922 Hamerstadt Mar. 27, 1928 Watson June 6, 1933 McBride Oct. 10, 1933 Johnson Dec. 19, 1933 

